I will soon add a little thesarvo guide entry for this mountain, which will include an access topo and some other routes from past epochs.

E Lucevan Le Stele.

This is the large north-facing buttress inside the Mt Murchison Crater. Access: follow Mt M summit track then descend to small hanging lake inside the crater, 300m altitude below summit trig. Descent via walk off down wide gully 50m east of Acrasia; OR abseil from bollard into narrow gully 25m east of Acrasia (one 50m abseil into gully, then another 50m abseil down steep gully).

Acrasia (aka ‘Original Route’) 130m Grade 18 **

Takes the walls and roofs 50m left of Lost Arrow corner.

Rack: standard traditional rack.

Start: The narrow arête on the far left side of ELLS buttress.

40m 17. Climb up on arête for 5m then transition to the left wall and up this for 15m following left leaning crack line until it finishes at right leading horizontal weakness. Traverse right back to arête (crux), then up through small overhangs right of arête to belay on ledge among overhangs.

45m 18. Up corner systems leading towards large blank roof, but tend diagonally left 5m prior to roof heading to weakness where roof is only 0.5m wide (4m run-out). Gear at roof, through this (crux) then up wall to large ledge (possible belay). Off ledge up 3m crack to small roof, but traverse left 3m to avoid it. Up steep wall above (on intermittent cracks, 5m left of large unattractive corner), until a move right into upper section of large corner is possible. Up this 5m to large ledge below overhangs.

40m 16. Up right of overhangs then on to top.

Hamish Jackson and Shumita Joseph Feb 2016

Lost Arrow 200m grade 25 ***

This climb was established ground up in one 11 hour push.

Climbs the large, over hanging diagonal corner that splits the prow of the E Lucevan Le Stele. Overhangs about 20m over the first 100m of climbing. Generally excellent rock that accepts good protection.

Start: approx. 50m right of Acrasia below the weakness through overhang 15m above.

30m 24 Steep and sustained, a tad intimidating. Up wall then through 4m roof via right leading horizontal flake. Up and left of hanging block (could not be budged), then right along ledge to belay.

20m 22. Up overhanging corner with increasing difficulty (+ damp after rain on FA), then exit left along large diagonal. Belay at base of major corner.

25m 20. Up steep corner and cracks, then left along easy diagonal to belay 5m under next hanging corner.

40m 25 Extremely exposed and very difficult. Up wall (2m wet patch on FA) to small roof, then through this with difficulty tending left. (Small cams may allow aid though this crux 22 A2?). Continue steeply to upper corner above quartzite band, to find the unlikely traverse across overhanging wall to right arête, and then up easily to large ledge.

25m 22. Exposed and technical conglomerate wall climbing. Head up short wall then traverse right 2m to base of corner, then up corner strenuously. As corner ends, follow a faint weakness up and left to gain a thin diagonal crack that leads back right to another large ledge. Phew.

Climb first half of SJ (grade 19 hand crack to this point), until a jug and BR be spied on the left face. Swing onto jug then clip BR, breathe deep then take the steep, sustained face and thin cracks above (well protected: wires and small cams).

FA H Jackson, S Joseph, T Smith, A Donaghue 2015

I finally got around to leading this ground up style the other day, after an earlier ascent, hence the delayed write up. I suspect many may find this variant easier than the original!! I have placed the bolt well left of SJ to avoid changing the character of that route. The direct start to Hejra is a good line - feels about grade 28 for 10m, but then is very thin (maybe 30 plus??) for 5m.

No recorded trad climbs here but people must have had a bash in the past? We climbed a two pitch trady number today. The route is located below Bells Buttress. We made two raps from the bolted anchors above and below the established sport climbs. The second rap is about 55m and lands on a sloping ledge.

1. 45m 19, Surmount the large detached block below the off width crack. Up crack and face for around 15m untill a bold traverse is made out to the arete on the left (no gear and friable holds). Follow the thin cracks and arete upwards via the "rodeo" block to the large platform.

2.15m 18, Up the thin cracks and flakey laybacks to the bolted anchor. A few dicky side steps are involved here. Get to the top of the buttress via one of the sporty numbers above.

Roughly 10 routes done between 2015 - 2017, possibly still a few easy lines left to do. Just under an hours walk from the carpark (very pleasant walking). It's a pretty small crag but it's a stunning place to be. The pick of the bunch is Rorogwela, grade 23 on gear, but for climbers climbing lower grades it can be a nice place to spend an afternoon/day. See guide to rocky cape.

Worthwhile. An unlikely and varied excursion, keeping on the arête (R of Zephyr) the whole way. Start 2 m R of Zephyr and left of the steep gully.

Climb the bulging wall and follow the arête passing to the left of a small roof, move back right, continue up the nose and mantelshelf onto a ledge. Up the clean arête keeping well away from the gully. At the top, scramble 4m to belay at two stout tea trees. Descend via the ramp.

P. Robinson, C. (Basil) Rathbone, Jan. 2017.

the Eagle 22m 18

The wall and arête right of Procrastination, just left of Kabling, gives an enjoyable steep climb: start midway between the two.

Boulder the thin face, then climb the shallow corner and finger cracks directly up to the hakea bush. Climb the overhanging arête, moving right on to the Kabling Wall near the top. DBB. Rap or lower off from here (20m).

Start a metre right of Kabling. Climb up and over to large block and take a direct line up the steep wall past 2 bolts and straight on up through the roof to the hakea bush. Step left and finish up right-hand edge of the wall to the Kabling DBB. Rap or lower off from here (20m).

up the fault directly above northern group track. Follow the fault then traverse right to fixture on the airete then up to ledge. This could be the first of 2pitches but we decided to bale from there. Good if your bringing up a Newby.

Beaman's Route "The New" Direct 24 ~ 7m of new climbing. Great! - Gets rid of the aid without a heinous nail pulling move, has some funky moves, and puts two stars back on the direct!

3m left of original direct: Climb up left facing corner for 5m. Funky moves right to gain face then ledge. Up 'old' direct.

H Jackson Feb 2017. Was done very safely using double ropes + boomer natural gear in corner - but would be better if I added a U-bolt as currently the right rope through original u bolt gets in the way of the dead point unless right rope is slack. I didn't have any u-bolts with me!

The story: Originally written up as a head point project, the FTR ascensionist (me) proved a real truent (13 years). An unknown climber (likely mainlander given ring bolts) meanwhile comes by, ignores the request for a bolt free ascent, and bolts the line, but doesn't glue to last ring bolts and doesn't record an ascent or project status (no tag). They too lapse into truency for some years. An access bolt had been placed and the rope on this seemed ancient so it must have been some time back when the bolts were placed. I was quite surprised to find all this when I returned to complete the project. The 'green point' looked pretty wild I must admit, although doable, and so I used the bolts.

The right leading diagnonal line across the back face of the quadrangle (ie faces east). A unique climb: amazing moves through lay aways and finger pockets. All go from the first move to the crux reaching the top of the wall. Grade to be confirmed. 5 bolts, plus single bolt lower off until ring bolts glued in.

Climbs the arête and tower right of Elementary Jam. Scramble up the blocks at the bottom then follow arête past bolts straight up to top. Like the other Trump Towers all the action and grief is at the very top. DBB: rap off bolts on the wall behind the finish (24m).

New route at the Acropolis. The grading/stars at this place are a bit weird. Astroboy should be a 3 star 22. Not sure why it lost a star. It may be a smidge dirty but is one of the coolest unique dolerite cracks in Tassie. Anna repeated Blackmans country and we thought it was 23 not 25. As a single pitch BMC is a ** route. It's short and cruxy. Also for those who are not aware, about half of the cliff is mossy ledgey chimneys so I am not sure why any of the existing multipitches would be given 3 stars. Rapping in and climbing the top pitches is probably the best option for getting the most quality climbing as you walk to the top of the cliff first anyway. For example, the 50 metre grade 21 pitch at the top of Take Me To The River is *** and is easily reached by rappel but the rest of the route is a bit wandery and dirty. I worked the crack left of Astroboy that Merry and Alex got on last year and it will be 27/28 with stonker gear all the way up and is the best dolerite crack I have been on. Of course it is an open project. I also partially cleaned the super thin crack immediately left of TGOE and it will go at 30+. When all of the top pitches at the acropolis are climbed it will have one of the highest concentration of quality cracks(+ one sport pitch) from grade 10 to 30 in the state. Maybe 25 routes from 20 to 50 metres long.

***Acropalyptic 28m 26

Open book corner left of Acropolis Now. Committing, bouldery and technical first half. Sustained layback and jamming second half. Triple green to red alien and doubles to 3 camalot.

Yeah, I looked at the line of Acropalyptic a couple of years ago - good effort John. I agree with your overall assessment of the crag and grading as well. Rapping in is the way to go. The rock on these top pitches is absolutely brilliant, and the crag gets ledgy and mossy the further down you go. Plus its is just an inspiring place to hang out. Made me keen to get back up there.

Hey I went back to Acropolis and sent that route I was working. I also climbed Farside and it was really good. I said the "best" crack but meant one of the best. These routes really are 3 stars. Too bad they arent on the columns of mt wellington. But as Ben says, at least the Acropolis is an inspiring place to hang out. Geerad from NZ put up a stunning 23 crack which he will write up soon I am sure.

***Isle of Rock 30m 26 The corner left of astroboy. Start from the same ledge as that route. The climbing gets increasingly difficult leading to the crux moves to gain the ledge. Excellent wires all the way up. Take a single rack of cams from green alien to 2 camalot but I used almost only bomber wires.

Well done, it makes one want to go back, there are climbs for all. Brilliant.I remember being pumped dizzy on a last pitch on the Acropolis N face years ago, and (apart the March Files on a hot day) what a place to climb! On another occasion half way up the Plenipotentiary a wedge tail eagle came across to check us out, 20-30m away in mid-air, motionless like a museum piece apart from the eyes, then a minute later a kilometre or so away over to Mt Gould.

Five or six cracks to the climber's left of the existing lines, with three big boulders near the topout.

It's a really really pumpy steep hand crack corner, the right wall overhangs 3m, and it is almost rest-less until you desperately escape right at 28m to some ledges. I used double camalots .4-4, a third #1 and some very large nuts; more .75s to 2s would have been nice.

The name comes from a heinous case of lichen-to-the-eye I got cleaning the climb. Photos are by, in order, Sana Zulic, and Sinisa Vujic; a Serbian couple who happened to be passing by after abandoning the Acropolis original route because of new routers bombarding them with rocks.

★ 1. Mountain Rocket 25m 22 12ÞTakes the sustained face left of Two Angry Young Men. At about two-thirds height you are forced right to a steep bulge to gain the arete, before heading back left to finish.Dave Humphries, Jon Nermut, Mar. 2017.

New route at Upper Fools Couloir: It follows the striking wide crack that Rick the Redneck starts on. Good, clean old-school fun and a distinctly different route to Rick. If the mountain editors deem it worthy to put on the guide, I'd be much obliged.

*The Frightful Hog 19 20m

Shares a start with Rick the Redneck, but continues up the obvious wide crack instead of veering (cowardly) off to the right. Grunt past the delightful rootlet with the welcome assistance of the arete. Fists, big fists and a touch of off-width.

And will omit the word cowardly: the original description for Rick the Red Neck is "climb the more appealing line 1m to the R' which is still probably true. And Al and Pete are probably the last people you would accuse of cowardice, even in jest, or maybe you don't know them.

Fair enough! Fully intended in jest (its the opposite of bold with big cams), and I'm certainly not having a go at Rick the Redneck which is a very nice route. Definitely a rooflet. Thanks for putting it up, although it probably should appear before Rick if listed left to right.

Update: Continuum (gr 17) on main wall (Freycinet) has been 'edited' by the FA party. 2 bolts have been added to the traverse pitch, which has also been brushed (june 2017). It is now a good time to repeat this climb!

I did Continuum back in 2013 and it was one of my favorite memories of that season climbing on the Hazards. I don't agree with the addition of the bolts i thought the gear was spaced but ok. All the routes felt 'ok' though after climbing 'don't land on your lunch' The addition of these bolts will make the route more enticing to a bigger climbing demographic. It's a great line and deserves more traffic.

I think the addition of a rap route of Stud city is something I've thought has needed to be done for a long time, do it!

Also: would people support the additon of a rap anchor down Stud City? The current abseil is rather awful (loose rock, lots of prickly rope snagging bushes). The second BR on Continuum is well positioned (in line and above small ledge) to be incorporated into a second rap anchor.

Thanks for feedback Jed. I get the impression from others that my approach here would be supported, but it good to hear of the other opinions out there. Next time I will ask for advice from those who have repeated the route before a retrobolt one of my old climbs. Note that the climb is still a bit run out, like many main wall climbs.

Maybe I should make a new thread, but how did you go with access? We went up for a look yesterday and hit "Private Road" and "Private property, trespassers will be prosecuted" signs a bit before the described parking spot (we think). Just before what looked like a new big shed being built on the right of the road. We were going to ask at the property on the left just there with all the car bodies, but their front gate had a locked chain across it.

Yes, it's still a little while along the road past the "shed" and the house with 4000 cars out the front till you reach the car parking area. You will see a gate on the left, park near here but don't be obstructin the gate. Good luck and god speed.

This ones at Friendly Point, Freycinet.The Upper terrace is split by a huge horizontal crack/tunnel/cave that trends slightly upwards from right to left along virtually the whole crag. Cant believe it hasn't been done (or has it?), as it's so obvious. Really good route and hard for the grade! Reminiscent of the route After the Gold Rush or Reaper at Araps.

This is best done as two pitches but we did it as 3 to keep it pure. If you could add it to the guide would be sick.

The Grand Grovel 22 45m This line takes the humongous left trending horizontal of the upper terrace. Start at the she oak on a little rise.1- 19 20m Up the chimney heading left into the difficulties, squirm on fist jams. When you emerge continue L on hand jams and smears to a point where the crack peters out in a small cave.2- 22 25m Break out left on hand jams and smears until you once again get engulfed by the crack. Leave the safety of the notch and out onto the open face using whatever contorted dance moves you can to pass the horizontal offwidth (crux) and reach the ledge.

Got back from a few days at Stepped Hills. Insanely spectacular bit of rock, and an unjustly neglected Tasmanian mountain in my opinion, especially given how close you can get to it on the Clear Hill Road. We were aiming to do the big head-walls but got defeated by the scrub and complex approach. Instead, we did a couple of routes on the comparatively small (albeit 100m high) lower cliffs and found some legitimately excellent, sustained climbing on rock remarkably similar to Arapiles. Setting up a base camp is a breeze with a kayak, but the scrub on the approach definitely puts a spanner in the works. I might try another trip again this summer. I've updated the Other Western Crags guide.

★

Macondo

110m

14

Climbs the lowest and left most block of rock. Best approached via the button-grass lead on the northern shoulder, or the scree path the runs below it. 1. 50m 14. In the middle of the face about one third of the way up, is a large, prominent roof. The route starts directly below this. Climb over the initial steepness using the jugs slightly to the left, and continue up excellent rock to pass the roof via a notch on it's left edge. Belay above this next to a tree. 2. 30m 13. Continue directly up the slabs to another roof. Traverse 5m left and around a corner to a large ledge. 3. 30m 10. Climb the corner and slabs to the top. An abseil may be necessary to reach the descent gullies on either side.

R. Hardy and B. Armstrong, Nov 2017

★★

Dumb Luck

80m

19

Climbs the cliff immediately to the right of Macondo. Awesome adventure climbing with a wild roof move. 1. 30m 14. The right-hand half of the block has a wide roof about 25m above the ground. Locate the big flake system just below the right-hand end of it, and start climbing 7m to the left of this. Up jugs to a small ledge, continue up for several meters, traverse right on obvious holds for 5m then climb up a crack to belay at a ledge just below the left-hand end of the roof. 2. 30m 19. Traverse a few meters right to a black notch, and haul over the roof. Continue up the sustained slabs to a ledge. 3. 30m 12. Directly up the short wall then climb the spiky tower to the right of the scrubby gully. Descend by abseil off to the left.

The prow in the second photo is 200m from top to bottom. There's a system of cracks that runs directly up the arete. We scoped some potential solutions to the massive roofs, but it still looks like a fairly serious undertaking (assuming of course that it can be accessed).

Nice one Ben - I've been wondering when someone might 'discover' these cliffs. I went out there with my bro 11 years ago and did one cool 100m route, but kept it a bit quiet as we planned to return to do the corner arete system you have photgraphed. Dave James was keen to join us, but we haven't been back yet. i'll post our route topo next. we walked to the top and accessed the impressive upper walls in a top down approach due to the difficulties accessing the major lines from the base. at the time the tyndalls had just been climbed and we wondered whether these were the largest unclimbed walls in the state.

Garn Cooper had previously suggested the name "The Cliffs of Insanity" for these large west facing walls - due to some likeness to the huge cliffs in the film 'the princess bride'. he hadn't climbed there, but we sort of adopted this name in our conversations - what do you think? obviously 'stepped hill cliffs' is the obvious alternative. however there are other good cliffs on the stepped hills ...

It was the first major trip I did with Shumita - who i had just met and she had only done a bit of climbing previously. she had planned to join us just for the walk, but then joined us on the day for her first big climb. our route was SUPER exposed (went through a roof about 300m above the 'ground')- she was not supringly a little oerwhelmed. i had to 'push' her 2m down into tight cave near my belay to give her a break from 'the air beneath the feet'. the rock on our route was also remarkably good (super hard, weathered conglomerate w good gear).

Access: walk to the top of stepped hills via button grass lead north of the Cliffs of Insanity. Scramble down gully between the major buttresses for ~ 100m. A ledge system leads to the arete (start of the climb).

50m 17. (climber photographed above is on this pitch). ascend steep face just left of arete, passing many small roof features. belay beneath large roof.

50m 17. Tackle easiest weakness through roof above belay (curx), then weave right to avoid next large roof, then climb back left up blank looking face and left arete above, with reasonable protection (looks improbable).

+1 to the name Cliffs of insanity. Mainly due to the rather dense bush which makes the prospect of climbing there a little crazy. Have any of the faces been named? Ben and I came up with some rather uninspiring names (like "the blob" for the face that has "inconceivable" on it) but they aren't the best.

robert hardyHamish JacksonBen Armstrong the TFS map now has the stepped hills at least partially burnt in the Gell river fire. I'm guessing Clear Hill rd wont be open for ages for anyone to check it out.